Bledsoe Impressive In Debut With Bills

NFL - The Beat

August 10, 2002

That wasn't Rob Johnson wearing No. 11 for the Buffalo Bills, and those weren't boos coming from the stands on Friday night. Greeted by elongated chants of his first name, Drew Bledsoe quickly established himself in his Bills' preseason debut, a 24-17 loss to the visiting Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals won the game in the second half with the second- and third-stringers on the field. Akili Smith hit Sean Brewer with a strike in traffic for the go-ahead, 8-yard touchdown with 2:42 left in the third quarter, and kicker Neil Rackers added a 34-yard field goal as the Bengals overcame a 17-7 deficit.

Bledsoe's was the more significant performance after he spent the previous nine years in New England. In a little more than one quarter, Bledsoe went nine-of-11 for 136 yards, threw two touchdowns (one to Eric Moulds and one to Peerless Price) and was intercepted once. Bengals star running back Corey Dillon (foot) watched without pads on from the sideline.

RAVENS EDGE LIONS

Will Demps ruined rookie Joey Harrington's debut by returning an interception 18 yards for a touchdown with 1:55 left, giving the host Baltimore Ravens a 12-6 victory against the Detroit Lions.

COWBOYS SMACK RAIDERS

Quincy Carter threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Mike Lucky and Troy Hambrick had a 2-yard TD run as the host Dallas Cowboys beat the Oakland Raiders 20-6. Sebastian Janikowski kicked two field goals for the Raiders.

PANTHERS' TERRY TO PAY

A judge extended a temporary protective order for one year after the wife of Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Chris Terry testified he threatened her and pushed her into a wall. Mecklenburg County (N.C.) Judge Louis A. Trosch also ordered Terry to pay NyQuell Jackson-Terry $10,000 a month in support once the NFL season begins. Until the Panthers are done with training camp, he must pay her $500 a week, stay out of the couple's home and away from their children's school and day-care.